INTERIOR OF THE POULTRY HOUSE 195 



Dust Boxes. — The dust box is a necessary part of all 

 poultry house interiors. Its purpose is to provide a dry, 

 fine dust or soil in which the birds can bathe themselves. 

 Access to such a box reduces the danger of body lice to a 

 minimum. The best places for the dust boxes are in the front 

 corners of the laying house, because these are well lighted 

 and the birds naturally love to bask and dust in sunlight. 

 A good method for constructing dust boxes is to use a comer 

 of the building (Fig. 110), the walls forming two sides of the 

 box, and build the other two 

 sides by nailing together 

 at right angles, in the form 

 of the letter L, two twelve- 

 inch boards. These boards 

 can then be fitted into the 

 corner, thus making a box 

 three or four feet square. 

 Fill this with equal parts 

 of very fine road sand and 

 dry loam, and add a small 



amount of tobacco dust. Fig. no.— sketch of a duat box built into 

 mi 1 i i_ J. 1, i J tli^ corner of a laying pen. 



The dust boxes, to best do 



their work, should be kept free from stones or large clods 



of soil. No litter should be allowed to accumulate in 



them. 



Litter on the Floor. — As soon as the interior fixtures are 

 completed and in place, it is well to cover the floor with some 

 good litter or scratching material. Coarse straw, shredded 

 corn stalks, hay and shavings are used (Fig. 111). The litter 

 should be quite deep, so that the birds will have to work 

 to find the grain scattered in it. It is also essential, from 

 the standpoint of health, that it be kept in good order, which 

 means that it should be dry, coarse, deep, and clean. After 

 filling the mash hoppers and water fountains, the house is 

 absolutely ready for the birds. 



